Monday, August 30, 2010

When Books Become Movies

As someone who likes both reading and watching movies, it's sometimes hard to decide which form I'd rather indulge in. Differences between a book and its movie adaptation can nag at me, even when they don't make a difference to the story. Because of this, I've found that it usually helps if I see a movie long after having read the book. That way, the text isn't fresh in my mind, and I can appreciate the film version better.

I found three books that I think have potential on the big screen. The publication dates range from 1982 to 2007, and I read them all fairly soon after they were published. If you're a fan of Christopher Moore, Dean Koontz, or Bentley Little, check out my picks for books that should be movies.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Update on status of Persons Unknown Episode 11 (and the Finale)

I'd intended to write about books this week, but then something happened with Persons Unknown, and I wanted to provide an update.

Until very recently, NBC was saying that episode 11, "Seven Sacrifices," would be available online only. This was upsetting to those of us who either can't or just don't want to watch shows online.

I decided to check my cable's On Demand section, just to see whether the missing episode was there. Well, to my surprise, it was.

This won't help everyone, since not everyone has the On Demand option, but it helped me, and I'm grateful that NBC made it available in a way in which I could actually watch the missing episode. (No, I haven't actually watched it yet.)

If you're a fan of this show, don't forget that the final two episodes will air tomorrow, August 28. It's a double-header; check your local listings for the time.

Sunday, August 15, 2010

NBC's Latest Persons Unknown Fiasco

My husband and I were planning to check out The Event. Of all the new shows premiering in the fall, it's the one that most interests both of us. It's certainly gotten a lot of promotion. Now I'm wondering whether it's worth our time.

NBC can't even commit to a show that was planned as a 13-episode miniseries. I'm referring to Persons Unknown. For some inexplicable reason, the network is considering skipping episode #11.

As I said, it was always supposed to be a miniseries, and we were promised answers to all our questions by the end of its run. Did I ever believe that? Well, not really. Why? Partly because they can't begin to imagine all the questions viewers can come up with, but mostly because I always figured it was possible they'd pull the show before airing all the episodes. Normally, when this happens, they end the show early. I never imagined they'd yank an episode from the middle and then show the remaining two.

Most shows airing nowadays are in serial format, with no stand-alone episodes. If you miss one, the continuity is gone. This is even more true of a show like Persons Unknown. It's a huge mystery, and fans are supposed to look for clues in every episode. People like me--who don't like spoilers--don't want to find out elsewhere what happened if we miss an episode. They're called "spoilers" for a reason; they ruin the show for us.

Will I continue to watch Persons Unknown on NBC? Not if they really skip an episode. I'd rather wait for the DVDs. Am I still willing to give The Event a chance? At this point, I really don't know.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Pretty Little Liars

A friend alerted me that ABC Family will be airing a Pretty Little Liars catch-up marathon on August 10. The marathon starts at 11:00 am EDT and will include the first ten episodes.

This show is based on Sara Shepard's book series of the same name. Although teens--especially teenage girls--are the target audience, it has broader appeal.

I knew about Pretty Little Liars before it premiered, and I was interested. The problem was that I couldn't justify adding yet another show to my schedule, so I decided to pass. I regretted this decision after finding out that Nolan North was playing the father of one of the liars.

Port Charles fans know Nolan as Chris Ramsey. Since its cancelation in 2003, he has become a prolific voice actor. In fact, if you're a gamer, there's a good chance you've heard Nolan's voice many times.

I like to watch shows in order, and I don't watch shows online. Now, thanks to the upcoming marathon, I'll be able to watch Pretty Little Liars from the beginning.